Sheave block with adjustable eye



May 26, 1953 R. Y BARKLEY SHEAVE BLOCK WITH ADJUSTABLE EE Filed Sept. 1l, 1,950

INVENTOR BY f ATIORNEYS' Patented May 26, ,1953

SHEAVE BLOCK WITH ADJUSTABLE yEYE Robert Y Barkley, Weems, Va.

Application September 11, 1950, Serial No. 184,317

7 Claims.

This invention relates to sheave blocks, and more particularly to an improved form of sheave block adapted to control and limit the swing of the block in all directions both by means of the shape of the loop or bight of the block and in connection with the securing eye by means of which the block is attached to the boat or other object with which the device is to be used, and which will force the rope on to the sheave no matter from what direction the pull is exerted.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved sheave block and securing eye by means of which the sheave block is provided with a variable adjustable limit on its movement within the eye, selectively restricting such movement if desired to one side or the other of the eye as may be desired, and also restricting the passage of the bight through the variable adjustment limit of the eye by means of the fixed stop 'I and the adjustable stops 1', with a view to so disposing the block as to facilitate passage of the rope or cable through the bight in the block and thus eliminate any disposition of the rope to entangle itself with the block as the direction of pull may change.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved and simplified structure for a sheave block by which the device can be constructed from stamped sheet metal or other suitable material without the loss of either strength or efficiency but at greatly reduced cost.

Various other objects will more particularly appear in the course of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combinations of parts hereinafter more particularly described and claimed.

One sheet of drawings accompanies this specication as part thereof, in which like reference characters indicate like parts throughout.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of my improved sheave block and attaching eye bolt;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the sheave block and attachment eye;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary cross section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a transverse cross section taken o line 4-4 of Figure 2 Figure 5 is an inner plan view of one of the stroke adjustment members showing details of its construction;

showing the adjustment plates adjusted to allow the maximum throw to the sheave block; and

Figure 7 is a side view of the attachment eye with the adjustment plates adjusted to restrict the throw of the sheave block to one side or the other of the eye, as may be desired.

In my prior Patent No. 2,453,357, granted November 9, 1948, I have disclosed an improved sheave block in which the movements of the block with respect to the tethering eye are limited so that the block cannot fall or turn relative to the eye when the rope becomes slack and various other advantages are obtained.

The present invention is directed to an improved sheave block and eye by which the advantages of my prior block are retained and means are provided for selectively adjusting the throw of the block with respect to the tethering eye and in the vertical plane thereto, as may be desired under particular circumstances, and the entire device can be constructed with much greater economy and eiciency.

In the present invention the sheave l is pivoted as by a bolt 2 between the ends of the block frame which is constructed of an outer strap 4 and two inner plates 3, superposed one upon the other. The inner plates 3 will preferably conform. to the shape and size of the sheave I and diminish in width toward their lower ends at which point they are provided with outwardly directed wings 1 adapted to be folded outwardly over the outer strap 4 at about points 5-5 on either side of the bight of the strap 4. Preferably the plates 3 will be rolled outwardly to eliminate undue friction on the rope. The bight portion of the strap 4 between the points 5-5 is embossed with a longitudinally extending outwardly concave groove 6 providing a convex transversely rounded inner face 8 providing a smooth contacting surface engaged by the inner circumferential face of the tethering eye I0. It will be apparent that the groove E Will further materially stiften the strap 4 throughout the bight area of the strap. The wings l--l constitute'fixed stops for the swing of the bight of the block through the tethering eye slot 20 and additional stops 1-l' formed by screws positioned selectively in spaced threaded holes 9 formed in the bight may be used or additional stop lugs may be welded or otherwise secured to the bight.

The tetheringeye I0, as illustrated, is provided withv the rconventional stem I2 threaded at its "Figure *6* is a Side view rof the aptachmenteye. 55 free end, as at I1, for securing purposes land is 3 formed on its opposed outer faces with transverse serrations II. Obviously, other means for securing the eye may be used, as desired. Associated with the tethering eye are two adjustment plates I3 each comprising a centrally positioned, substantially circular part provided with Aa central screw-receiving oriiice I5, and with a radially disposed segment I4 within which is stamped an arcuate groove I8 provided with transverse serrations adapted to engage and 'be held. by the transverse serrations on the tethering eye I at selected positions. The two adjustment plates I3 are complementary and identical in structure and are secured with respect tothe tethering eye I0 by the screws I6 which passes freely throughA one of these plates and is screw-threaded into the other, as illustrated in Figure 4.

It will be apparent from a consideration of the drawing that by loosening the screw I6 the adjustment plates can be angularly adjusted with respect to each other, thus increasing or decreasing the leng-th of the arcuate slot 20 formed between the inner face of the tethering eye and the circular outer edge of the central portions I3 of the adjustment plates. It will further be observed that by providing the limited varcuate slot 20 and the transversely curved shape of the bight portion of the block strap 4, the turning moment of the sheave block strap II is limited by the width of this arcuate slot 20, providing a full equivalent to the slot and feather utilized in my previous construction, so that my improved sheave block and tethering 'eye with the latters adjustment plates provides lfor selectively limiting the swivelling movement of the Asheave block with respect to the tetheri-ng eye both in the plane of the tethering yeye and in directions perpendicular with respect to the plane "of the tethering eye, and the extent of the swivelling 'of the sheave block with respect to the tet-heling eye is adjustable both as to extent and as Yto its location with respect to the tethering eye.

Various modiiications of the precise shape Aand construction of the parts will 'readily vsuggest themselves to those skilled in the art, but within the scope of the present invention as Claimed.

Having thus vdescribed my invention, `I claim:

l. Tethering eye for a sheave block having its opposite side faces roughened 'to provide frictionalsurfaces, adjustment platesco'mplementary in size and shape, each Vof a width to 'cover 'a minor angular portion of Ythe 'eye and yformed 'on one face with a roughened groove to 'engage a portionof `the roughened face vof the 'eye and with a lcentering orifice, and screw means for engaging said plates through said centering orifices centrally of vthe tetheringeye, wherebysaid plates can vbe angularly vadjusted with respect to each other thereby modifying the llength rand position of an arcuate passage dened'be't'ween 'thefedges of said plates and the inner edge 'of the ltethering eye.

-2. Tethering eye for a sheave block comprising a ring member having tangentially secured fastening means for attaching `the ring 'to'a fixed member, two` adjustment plates each "of a width to cover a minor arcuate portion 'only of the ring, each plate formed -on one lface adjacent one end with 'a "transversely disposed arcuate grooveconforming in curvature with the ring 'and adjacent the other 'end with an orifice, 'said "orifice constituting the center for'said arcuategroove and Vmeans for securing said plates through 'said superposed orifices with Lthe plates engaging "opposite "faces -o'f the ring.

3. In combination a sheave block comprising a strap bent into loop form, a sheave rotatably mounted between the end portions of the strap, side plates positioned one on each side of the sheave adjacent the strap, each side plate shaped to conform in size `and shape with the exposed part of the sheave and having a radial extension reaching yto the side end of the bight portion of the loop, with oppositely disposed ears formed on the end oi said extension folded to embrace the strap and constitute limit stops at the side ends of said bight portion, Ithe strap formed throughout said bight portion with a longitudinal groove of concavo-'convex cross-section with the convex side on the inside of said loop and a tethering eye slidable on the bight portion of the loops, between said stops, said eye having means for securing it to a fixed member and adjustable members deiining with the inner edge of the eye an arcuate slot of adjustably variable length and angular location with respect to the eye within which slot lthe bight portion lof the strap can slide in a circumferential direction with respect to said eye but can rotate in radial planes to only a limited degree determined by the width of the slot and width of the -bight .portion of the strap.

4. Sheave block comprising l'a strap in the form of a loop, a sheave rotatably mounted between the Yopposed ends of the strap, side plates proportioned and shaped -to conform with and guard the sheave superposed on the ends of vthe strap with extensions converging in width .to substantially yadjacent the bight of the strap loop, with oppositely disposed lugs formed .to -embrace the strap at said terminal points, to constitute fixed stops at the ends of the bight portion of the strap, a tethering eye slidable on ysaid bight portion between saidstops, and fauxiliary removable stops adapted to be adjustably secured to the `bight portion of said strap within the range established by said iixed stops for Ashortening the range of sliding movement of said tethering eye along said bight portion.

5. Sheave block comprising a strap inthe form of an open loop, said strap having an arcuate relatively wide bight portion and relatively narrowly spaced parallel end portions, `and intermediate portions convergent from `said bight portion to said end portions, a sheave rotatably mounted between said endfportions,side plates -interpostioned between vsaid sheave and the -end portions of said strap extending along the inner faces of the intermediate portions of said strap, having ends terminating in projecting collars about saidstrap at points intermediate the'ends of .said strap and Vthe middle-of said 'bight portion, forming stops, the .bight `portion of said strap ibeing concavo-convex in cross-section betweensaid stops with the con-Vex -side on fthe inside of said oop.

6. Sheave block as `claimed in-clairn5, said side plates being substantially congruent with '-'the ends fof Isaid sheave, and convergent ytherefrom toward the intermediate portions of said strap. said ends vof said side plates being `secured "by integral portions at said ends bent about `said strap in clamping relation thereto, Vthe opening in said vloop from said'bight portion 'to said sheave being pear shaped.

7. Sheave block comprising in combinatioma loop shaped strap vhaving opposed rela-tively narrowly spaced iiat end portions in jpa'ralle'l planes, and a relatively wide bight portion 'rounded transversely on its inner side throughout `arc extending to the opposite sides of said bight portion, a sheave rotatably mounted between said end portions, side plates interposed between said sheave and said end portions extending contiguous to said strap to the ends of the rounded arc of said bight portion and having lugs at their ends embracing said strap forming stops, a tethering eye slidable on the bight portion of said strap between said stops, said eye having its side faces formed with Itransverse serratons, complementary adjustment plates, each of said plates being formed with a centering orifice and each having a segmental portion formed with arcuate transversely serrated grooves :adapted to selectively and clampably engage various arcuate portions of the respective faces of the tethering eye, and screw means connecting said plates through said orices whereby said segmental portions of said adjustment plates can be angularly adjusted to vary the limits of travel of said loop shaped strap with respect to said eye.

ROBERT Y BARKLEY.

No references cited. 

